Subject: Intro to Philosophy of Human Person Subject Teacher: Krenzy Breeza M.
Bisaya
Year & Strand: ALL 12 Strand
Methods of Philosophizing
Lesson 2
The Lesson containing a topic, namely:
• Topic 1 – Distinguish opinion from truth.
• Topic 2 – Realizing methods of philosophy lead to wisdom and truth.
• Topic 3 - Evaluating truth from opinions using the methods of philosophizing.
2.1 Distinguish Opinion from Truth
Truth - Philosophers often grapple with the concept of truth. Truth lies at the heart of any inquiry. It
is a fact that has been verified. (Abella 2016)
Knowledge - According to Abella (2016), it is important to clarify knowledge before we discuss
truth, since it through knowing that we are able to determine what is true. He further discusses
Knowledge is the clear awareness and understanding of something.
Propositions or statements which are observed to be real or truthful are considered facts. However, there are
statements that are not evidently or immediately known to be true. This statement is claim, a further
examination is required to establish whether it is true or false.
“Fact: statement of actuality or occurrence. A fact is predicated on evidence, actual experience, or
observation.
3 Theories of Truth
1. The Correspondence Theory - states that a proposition is true if it is corresponding to the facts.
(Hospers 1997)
Consider: ‘The snow is white.’
One needs to check if the statement corresponds to facts.
Strength:
Simplicity
Appeal to common sense
Problem: what about religious truths?
If we can’t see God, does it mean there is no God?
2. The Coherence Theory - Hospers also discuss that if a proposition coheres with all the other
propositions taken to be true, then it is true
Consider: ‘The snow is white.’
One needs to check if it is consistent with other beliefs known to be true, e.g. ‘Ice is white,’ ‘Snow is
frozen water,’ ‘Frozen water is ice.’
Problem: can’t a body of false statements be coherent as well? What made other beliefs true?
3. The Pragmatic Theory - states that a proposition is true is true if it is useful to believe.
William James is considered as the father of Pragmatism.
Consider: ‘The snow is white.’
One needs to test if the proposition works in reality; specifying the pigment white and checking to
see if different snow samples exhibit the white pigment.
Problem: if fake news works, does it become true?
3 Perspectives regarding truth:
According to Abella (2016), there are several views regarding truth. But what kind of belief is truthful? How
do we know that what we believe is true?
He further explained that everything we know about this world is true. But philosophers who pondered upon
the origins of knowledge doubted everything that there is to know about themselves and the world. It is said
that there are instances when we have to unlearn something so that we may learn anew.
Let’s embark on our own investigation on the nature of knowledge. (Abella 2016)
1. A belief is true if it can be justified or proven through the use of one’s senses.
I am alive.
I have a body.
I can breathe.
In philosophy, systematic doubt is employed to help determine truth.
Using doubt as our starting point, Let’s rewrite the statements as questions so we can review and examine
them further.
Am I alive?
Do I have a body?
Can I breathe?
You can conclude with certainty that the previous statements about yourself are true. You can now say:
I am alive!
I have a body!
I can breathe!
2. A belief or statement is true if it is based on facts.
I am a Filipino.
How philosophy can help us determine if it is true.
So, let’s apply systematic doubt and revise the statement for further examination.
Am I a Filipino?
Look up the word “Filipino” in a dictionary, you will come across the following definitions:
Filipino (noun)
1. a native of the Philippine Islands
2. a citizen of the Republic of the Philippines
3. the Tagalog-based official language of the Republic of the Philippines.
We applied this perspective when we looked up the meaning of the word “Filipino” in a dictionary. We
assumed that what is stated in the definition is the actual meaning of the word.
4. Getting a consensus or having people agree on a common belief.
When you asked your peer, family, relatives and friends regarding your question, all of them have the same
answer then it is true. But this approach has certain limitations. (Abella 2016)